CIUDAD DEL CARMEN, MEXICO — Prosafe semisubmersible accommodation unit Safe Lancia, working on a charter with Cotemar for Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) in the Bay of Campeche offshore Mexico, began to list up to nine degrees at 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 4 due to a ballast tank problem. According to the unit’s captain, the situation was brought under control and the crew stabilized the semi and brought it back to three degrees inclination by 11:55 p.m.

Pemex’s Centro Regional de Atencion a Emergencias was informed at 10:40 p.m., and boats and helicopters were dispatched to help the 514 personnel onboard Safe Lancia if necessary. According to Pemex, the listing did not affect the workers on board, nor any of its drilling activities.

According to a spokesperson from Prosafe, one of the port aft columns took in water. All emergency and alarm equipment functioned correctly and the crew responded in the appropriate manner.

Safe Lancia has been on a long-term bareboat charter with Cotemar for Pemex since 1998. Cotemar is responsible for the rig operations and crew.

At last report from Pemex on Feb. 5, efforts were still underway to return Safe Lancia to normal operations. According to Prosafe, the situation is fully under control. Pemex noted that 198 workers were moved from the platform to Puerta de la Laguna Azul in Ciudad de Carmen, but stressed that this was a normal crew changeover, not a result of the ballast incident.

Prosafe is investigating the incident in order to prevent a reoccurence and ensure transfer of experience.